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17 Incredible American Idol Auditions That You Probably Forgot About Over The Years

Sara Heddleston

Sara has been working and writing online for so many years, she's unsure if she is still in corporeal form. She considers herself a jack of all trades, but would prefer it if you would stop calling her "Jack."

The fifteenth and final season of American Idol, the wildly popular singing competition series, premiered on January 6, 2016.

The first season aired on Fox on June 11, 2002. Since then, American Idol has changed countless lives and has become one of the most impactful shows on television. It has been said that the success of the show is "unparalleled in broadcasting history." It's easy to believe that, given it has been a cornerstone of American culture for over a decade.

Before you enjoy American Idol: The Farewell Season, though, take some time to look back at these fantastic auditions from the last 14 seasons. Some truly talented people have graced the cramped audition rooms of countless hotels and event centers...and their brilliant first performances need to be heard!

17. Chris Sligh -- Season 6

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16. Casey Abrams -- Season 10

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15. Melinda Doolittle -- Season 6

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14. Katharine McPhee -- Season 5

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13. Burnell Taylor -- Season 12

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12. Chris Daughtry -- Season 5

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11. Chris Medina -- Season 9

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10. Frenchie Davis -- Season 2

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9. Taylor Hicks -- Season 5

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8. Fantasia Barrino (wait until she really belts it out at 2:50) -- Season 3

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7. Megan Corkrey -- Season 8

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6. Reed Grimm -- Season 11

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5. Mandisa -- Season 5

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4. Adam Lambert -- Season 8

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3. Carrie Underwood -- Season 4

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2. Clay Aiken -- Season 2

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1. Kelly Clarkson -- Season 1

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Honorable Mention: Sherman Pore -- Season 6

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Sherman Pore may not have been a normal contestant (or even one that was within the competition's age range), but you'd be hard pressed to find a person that isn't moved by his touching audition.